Aussies seek repeat as Ironman unfolds

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu, Philippines  – The Cobra Ironman 70.3 Philippines fires off today with a pair of Australians seeking to extend their reign, a Formula One champion raring to strut his stuff and a bevy of stars out to contend for the crown at the beachfront of the Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa here.

Aussie Pete Jacobs guns for a rare three-peat after he lorded it over the field in the first two stagings of the event in Camsur while compatriot Belinda Granger likewise goes for a repeat against a strong international field in this year’s biggest endurance race.

“It’s alway tough winning but I think It will still come down to the run as my weapon hopefully again,” said the 30-year-old Jacobs, also the winner of the 2012 Huskisson Long Course Race and 2011 Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

The 40-year-old Granger, on the other hand, will have her hands full in the distaff side that drew some of the world’s leading triathletes.

“It will definitely be tougher this year but if I could, I would definitely go for a repeat,” said Granger, whose other triumphs came in the 2012 Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon in Subic Bay, 2011 Geelong Long Course, 2011 Ironman 70.3 Japan.

Caroline Steffen heads the list of challengers with the Swiss bet hoping to nail the win on her first try. She brings with her a long list of triumphs, including the ITU Long Course Championship in Spain recently, the 2011 and 2012 Ironman European Championship, the 2012 Ironman Asia-Pacific and the 2010 ITU Long Course World Championship.

“I expect a tough course, strong winds in the swim, not so technical bike race,” said the 34-year-old Steffen, who has been going steady with Century Tuna 5i50 Triathlon Series winner David Dellow of Australia. She said the event serves as part of her builup for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

“I also like to race against her (Granger) because she’s a very good friend of mine,” she added.

Focus will also be on the Wetshop Para-Tri Team of Vince Garcia composed of one-legged swimmer Arnel Aba, club-footed cyclist Godfrey Taberna and one-armed runner Isidro Vildosola, who gained a free pass following a head-turning second place finish in the relay team in the Century Tuna 5I50 Triathlon in Subic Bay last June.

Formula One 2009 champion Jenson Button spices up the stellar field together with girlfriend Japanese fashion and lingerie model Jessica Michibata, who will compete in the relays alongside Cebuano tennis legend and newspaper columnist John Page.

Others in the fold are Amanda Stevens of the US, Australia’s Ali Fitch and Michelle Wu, New Zealand’s Cameron Brown, Hong Kong’s Erich Felbael and Sweden’s Frederick Cronenborg while Neil Catiil, Arland Macasieb and Noy Jopson lead the Phl campaign along with Dan Brown and Matthieu O’Halloran.

Ironman 70.3 race director Guy Concepcion said Lapu-Lapu is a little bit different than the first three editions in Camsur because of the open water swim course here at the Mactan waters of this island province.

“It’s a little bit different here in Lapu- Lapu because of the open water, which we expect to be a little windy come race time,” said Concepcion.

Other stars competing are Piolo Pascual, Drew Arellano and girlfriend Iya Villana, Erwan Heussaff, Anne Curtis, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Kim Atienza, Matteo Guidicelli, former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain, Richard Bachmann and former Tour champion Santy Barnachea.

The event, slated over key cities in Cebu starting with host Lapu-Lapu before passing through Mandaue, Cebu City and Talisay, drew a record 1,500 participants, including 1,340 individual and 125 relay entries, plus about 20 pros.

Other backers of the event are Alaska Milk Corp., Century Tuna, David’s Salon, Intercare, K-Swiss, Oakley, Timex and Powerade with Multi-Sports magazine, The Philippine STAR, Studio 23, BE Resorts, Crimson Resort & Spa, Finisher Prix, Shangri-La, Movenpick and Radisson Blu as the other supporters.